PROVIDENCE — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Rhode Island), published as received.
PROVIDENCE – A former IT Director for a Warwick, RI, metals fabrication and supply company pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a charge of wire fraud, admitting to a federal judge that he used his purchasing authority to embezzle more than one million dollars from the company, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Juan Hicks, 47, of New Bedford, MA, admitted that he defrauded AT Wall Companies by: creating false invoices and expense reports payable to himself; altering legitimate credit card statements to make purchases appear to be business expenses, when, in fact, they were for Hicks’ personal expenses; issuing company phones to himself and six family members and then enrolling the phones on the company’s wireless phone service plan; by submitting invoices and using company credit cards to purchase airline and entertainment tickets for himself, family members and friends; and by also using those company cards to make purchases at retail stores and auto repair centers.
Hicks’ criminal conduct came to light in March 2022, when AT Wall Companies hired forensic analysts to determine the source of a cyberattack and to assess vulnerabilities in its computer system. Hicks refused to provide his computer and passwords, as per company policy. Information and analysis provided by the company to the Warwick Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney’s Office subsequently revealed that Hicks had embezzled over one million dollars from the company since 2012.
Hicks is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
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